Dahlia plant named &#39;g14402dahl&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘G14402DAHL’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and large semi-double type inflorescences with greyed purple-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G14402DAHL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G14402DAHL’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Dahlia plants that have dark-colored leaves, large attractive inflorescences and reduced sensitivity to Powdery Mildew.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination in Bellefonte, Pa. in July, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number 3180-5M-2M-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number 3198-1-1, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on Mar. 14, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since Oct. 13, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G14402DAHL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G14402DAHL’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large semi-double type inflorescences with greyed         purple-colored ray florets.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have semi-double type inflorescences         whereas plants of the female parent selection have single type         inflorescences.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have semi-double type inflorescences         whereas plants of the male parent selection have single type         inflorescences.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the male parent selection differ         in ray floret color as plants of the male parent selection have         lavender-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘Mystic Wonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,397. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have semi-double type inflorescences         whereas plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ have single type         inflorescences.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Mystic Wonder’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ have red-colored ray         florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can also be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘G13525’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,223. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘G13525’ in ray floret color as plants of ‘G13525’ have greyed red-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G14402DAHL’ grown in a container. The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G14402DAHL’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘G14402DAHL’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             variabilis identified as code number 3180-5M-2M-2, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             variabilis identified as code number 3198-1-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at             ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at             ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three to four             weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy and fibrous;             close to white to creamy white in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber             development has not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia to date.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounded plant form;             broad inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about             seven primary lateral branches each with about six to seven             secondary lateral branches developing per plant;             inflorescences held mostly above and beyond the foliar plane             on moderately strong peduncles; vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 36             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 41             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 47 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 35 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Primary laterals, mostly erect; secondary laterals, about             15° to 45° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:             Somewhat glossy. Color: Developing, close to N199B; color             becoming closer to 200A with subsequent development. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 14.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 17.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Pinnatifid; deeply incised with five to seven lobes             with parallel sinuses.         -   Lobe length.—About 7 cm.         -   Lobe width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate, equilateral.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth and mostly             glabrous with minute hairs along veins.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N137A; venation,             close to 200B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 148A; venation, close to N199A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to 200A. Color, lower surface: Close to             N199A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form             with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;             inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on             moderately strong peduncles; inflorescences mostly nodding;             freely flowering habit with about 60 inflorescences             developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; sour.         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about six weeks after planting; plants flower             continuously from spring until frost in Michigan.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about five to six days on the plant; ray             florets not persistent and disc florets persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About             2.2 cm. Shape: Flattened sphere. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color: Phyllaries, close to             N199C; ray florets, close to N79A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 cm.             Shape: Rounded, bowl-shape. Color: Close to 200C to 200D             tinted with close to 146A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 28 arranged             in about two whorls. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About             2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded to slightly             emarginate. Base: Attenuate, fused at base. Margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to roughly             perpendicular to the peduncle with apices slightly reflexed.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Longitudinally ridged,             glabrous; velvety. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N79A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to N79B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 187A; venation, close to 187A; color does             not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 187B to 187C; venation, close to 187B; color does             not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 106 arranged             in about ten whorls. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices acute. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Moderately glossy to glossy.             Color, when opening: Darker than 187A to 187A. Color, fully             opened: Close to 187A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: One inner whorl with             about 14 phyllaries that are membraneous and closely             appressed to the receptacle and one outer whorl with about             six phyllaries that are bract-like and reflex downwardly.             Inner whorls: Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to N199D. Color, lower surface: Close to N199C. Outer             whorls: Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Slightly glossy. Color, upper             surface: Darker than 189A. Color, lower surface: Close to             N137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncles: About 6.5 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncles: About 2 mm. Length, axillary             peduncles: About 5.9 cm. Diameter, axillary peduncles: About             2 mm. Aspect, terminal peduncles: Mostly erect to bent with             the weight of the inflorescences. Aspect, axillary             peduncles: About 45° to 55° from lateral branch axis.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Luster: Somewhat glossy. Color: Close to 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Present on disc florets only.             Androecium: Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length:             About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 151D. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther size: About 5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color:             Close to 187B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 17C. Gynoecium, ray florets: Quantity per floret: One.             Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 4 mm. Style             color: Close to N163D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma             shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to N163D. Ovary color:             Close to 157A. Gynoecium, disc florets: Quantity per floret:             One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 8 mm.             Style color: Close to N163D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to N163D. Ovary             color: Close to 157A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate low temperatures about 1.7° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘G14402DAHL’ as illustrated and described. 